Machine for folding noodles.



0. PLETSCHER.

MACHINE POB. FOLDING NOODLES.

APPLIGATIQN FILED JUNE 9,1914.

Patentedy Feb. 16, 1915.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

CCU'Z Fleischer C. PLETSCHER. 1 MACHINE FOR FOLDING NOODLES.

APPLIGATION FILED JUN1:9.1911.A

Patented F6111@ 1915 13 SHEETS-SHEET 2y G. PLETSCHER. MACHINE POR FOLDING NOODLBS.

APLIoA'TIoN rum JUNE'9-1914.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

In 1re r1 :"0 r Carl Pie SC/zei* o. PLTSGHBR.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING NOODLESA APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1914.

1,128,900. Patented Feu-16,1915.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 4..

Sme/wwf@ Carl Plechef C. PLETSGHER.

MACHINE PoR FULDING NooDLEs.

APPLICATION FILED JUNBQ, 1914.

C1 PLETSCHBR.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING NOODLBS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE9,1914.

1,128900.. Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

13 SHEETS-SHEET G4 [n vc for C. PLETSGHER.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING NOODLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNBQ,1914,

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

' H2 g3 P v Fleischer G. PLETSGHER.

MACHINE POR FOLDING NooDLBs.

' APPLICATION PILPD JUNP9,1914. 'Llom Patented P61116, 1915.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 9. 'v

Carl Fleischer y f's d/Yar/IeJ/s I C. PLETSHBR. MACHINE FOR POLDING`NOODLES. APPLIGATIQN HLM; 1mm 9. 1914.

13 SHEETS-SHEBT 10.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

1% www jx# NUM C. PLE'ISGHERy MACHINE FOR FOLDING NOODLES.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNEQ, 1914y 1,1 28,900. Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 1l. l

C. PLETSGHER. MAGHINE FOR FOLDING NOODLES.

1 APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1914, 1,1,90 Patented 11611.16, 1915.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 121 c. PLBTSCHBR.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING NOODLES,` APPLICATION I'ILED`JUNE9,1914.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 13.

Carl Fleischer YATE@ FFE.

CARL PIJETSCHER, OF SAGNAW', MICHGAN, ASSIGNOR TO WERNER &; PFLEIDERER COMPANY, 0F SAGINAW, lVI'ICHGAN. y

MACHNE FR FOLDING NGGDLES.

Application filed `June 9, 191e.

To all whom if may concern Bc it known that I, C'ARL Pnn'rsciinii, a citizen of the Republic ofSwitzerland, residing iii Saginaw, in the county of Sagt naw and State of Michigan. have invented certain new and useful improvements in Machines for Folding Noodles, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to machines of the kind employed for folding strips or. ribbons of dough into loaves or bunches, and particularly to that class of such machines that are adapted to fold noodles. chinos it is usual to wind a *sheetcf dough on a horizontal shaft or arbor roi'iiwhich it is led through feed rolls whichV advance the sheet and reduce it to the desired thickness and which deliver the sh'eet thus prepared to cutters which divide it into strips or ribbons `which latter are subsequently cut into proper lengths to form noodles.

According to my invention l produce strips of dough or noodles in the way `iust described and l then fold them in a novel way by novel mechanism which receives the noodles from the cutters, folds thein and .delivers them in a'folded .condition to carriers which convey them away from the folding mechanism.

.The machine embodying my improve- A ments involves no substantial change in the cutting mechanism, but novel folding mechanism isadapted to receive the noodles a'tter they are severed into proper lengths, cause of tables which receive thestiips of doughv from the cutters and these tables Aare reciprocated in a horizontal plane beneath the cutting mechanism :ind during suoli reciprocation Vfold the noodles in the manner be fore specified. The mechanism is so con structed that noodles are folded during each back and forth movement of tho tables and at each stroke folded noodles are delivered to a conveyer which carries them away from the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l Specification of Letters Ilatent.l

In such ina-4 latented Feb. i6, i915.

seriainnsiasss. 5

shows a side elevation of a noodle-making machine;embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 shows a` vertical longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 8 shows a vertical section ou the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. l is a, View partly in iront elevation and partly in vertical section of the machine. a transverse section of the machine and illustrates in plan view the series of tables and their operating mechanism. Fig. G is a view on an enlarged scale showing in plan the tables and parts of their operating mechanism. Fig. 7 is a--perspective vicw of the folding mechanism. Fig. 8 isa detail view in section, showing one of the tables and certain mechanism connected therewith ,for operating it. Fig. 9 is a iierspective view of the iii-st or i'roiit table in the series. ig. l() is a similar view of the second table.

Fig. l1 is a perspective view oi the third or middle table. Fig. l2 is av perspectiveview of the *fourth table in the series. Fig. 13 is sectional view. showing the five folding tables in neutral position and supporting noodles ready to be staggered and folded. Fig. 1i is a similar view with the parts in a diiferent position, the tables having been shifted sidewise to stagge-r the noodles and the latter having` been partly folded. Fig. 15 is a similar view with. the parts in still another position, the noodles being coinpletely 4'folded and ready to be delivered.

Fig. 16 shows the parts of the mechanism,

Fig. shows c in the position they assume when the folded noodles are being delivered. Figs. 17 to 20, inclusive, are diagrams, illustrating the manner in which the secondr and fourth' Awhich effects the discharge of the folded noodles. Figs. 22, Q3 and 2l show further details of this mechanism Fig. Q5 shows how the strips o ribbons o't dough after being cut to the proper length are deposited iii a parallel condition on a set oi. four tables while they are in neutral position. Fie'. 26 shows how three oi the tables are shifted laterally in opposite directions to cause `the noodles to assume a position diagoiial to the line of movement of the folding mechanism. Fig. 27 shows how the noodles after having been arranged diagonally are folded at opposite ends. Fig. 9.8 shows how one of the folded ends of the Series of showing a which is adjustable to vary the position of its front edge al. This adjustment may be obtained in various ways. I -t will be ob-l served, however, that in the construction shown the guide-board is pivotally. connectu ed with the frame of the machine at d and it is jointed at d2 to an arm D which eX- tends 'through va horizontally arranged vshaft d3." By means of adjusting nuts d* the length of this arm may be varied and thus i vary the position of the edge d. When the guide-board D is made wide two such arms D' may be employed, and both of said arms may be. connected with the shaft d3 in the manner specified. This construction is indicated in Fig. 3.

f sprocket wheel H2 connected by a chain L E indicates a rotary knife which is operated to sever the strips or ribbons ofdough into suitable lengths. *Fast and loose pulleys 13,13 are mounted on a shaft p supported in the main frame, thel pulley P being fast on said shaft. The shaft 79 carries a pinion p2, meshing with a spur wheel?) on one end of the lower feed roll B on the opposite end of .which is another pinionJ o. meshing with a pinion 292 connected with the upper feed `roll B. An intermediate -spur wheel B meshes with the pinion b and also with a spur wheel c on the shaft of one of the cutters C which is also geared to the opposing cutter in the manner shown. The shaft'of the lower roller- B carries 'a spur wheel B2 which meshes with a pinion e on the shaft of the cutter or rotary knife E. In this way` the rolls B, cutters C and rotary knife E are driven from the shaft 70. i

The devices B4 for pressing down the upper feed vroll B and the devices C4 for' 'ad-f justing the cutters C formno part of. my

invention and need not be/described in detail.

Fr and about midway between its upper and lower ends the main-=f-frame supiort-s `the needle-folding mechanism, the etails of -njhich will -behereinafter described.

A shaft H mounted in .bearings in the lower portion of the main frame carries a cam disk H and the shaft H carries a with a sprocket wheel e on the shaft of the rotar cutter E. The cam H enffa es Y s roller ,fcarried by allever I, attached to a rock shaft z" and connected atits Vupper end Amechanism which will now be described.

The frame `of the machine indicated by to a transverse rod J', which is in turn connected with-the noodle-folding mechanism by. theadjustable' rod J', The rockshaft i extends transversely-.across the mohineanwd carries another leverjY similar to ftlziedex'er 70 I and which is also connected.withltherod f J, as clearly shownfinligf of tli'edrawings. Motion is imparted .t6 th'e'shaft-'of the rotary knife in the manner before described l and as this shaft islrotated a rotary motion 75 is given through, the'spr'oqket wheel e and, the chain h to the cam. H and shaft H', an oscillating motion is given to the' levers l, I and a reciprocating-motion is given to the. folding mechanism.

rlheendless belts or aprons L, L are of ordinary construction and are operated in a' well known ways As` indicated, the belts are supported at their inner adjacent ends by rollers Z carried by vertically adjustable blocks L2 which are supported on rods L3 Y adjustable vertically in the framein a Well known way. The rollers Z are 'provided with sprocket Wheels l and the blocks L'carry sprocket idlers Z2. The chain L* for driving the belts L, L engages the sprocket wheels and idlers specified and also 'an idle sprocket wheel Z3 and this chain is operated by a sprocket wheel e2 loose on the rod d and fast with a spur ,fwheel e which meshes with the pinion e4 on the shaft-ofthe rotary knife E. In this Way the proper movement `is given to the endless belts or carriers L, L

tolmove the noodles after being folded from the folding mechanism to their' destination. The 'mechanism thus far described is similar to machines which have been already used for the purpose of folding noodles.

My improvements relate tothe folding 165 The frame for the folding 'mechanism is -fastened in any suitable way to the main frame ofthe machine, about midway between its upper and lower ends. This frame comprisesa bottom part g which is for the most part closed but which is provided with-an openingg, as indicated. The frame has upwardly projecting side portions G2, G3' each of which comprises a-bottom rail g2 and a top rail g3. These two rails on each side are separated in such manner as to leave a space g4 between them, and in said spaces g4 are mounted slides K which are connected at their rear' ends by a cross bar K adjustably connected with the rod J hereinbefoe referred to. The slides K preferably l'iave a tongue-andgroove connection with the rails g", as indicated forinstance,'l in Fig. 8, and these slides are reciprocated back arid forth in the spaces g4 and carry with them the noodle! folding tables O", 02,103, O, O5 which are connected with the slides in 'the manner presently to be described.

O ne of the sides G2 of the folder framjois this opening on the bottom g of the frame provided with'a series of racks R", R2, 3% R4, best seen in Fig. i" and also shown in other figures of the drawings. 'lheseracks are arranged above the plane of the opening, g4 of the side G2 'and beneath the plane of are arranged racks r', r2. r3, 7^* also clearly shown in Fig'. 7 of the drawings and elsewhere indicated. All of the racks above described are used to operate the folding tables at the proper times and in the proper manner, as will be hereinafter explained to give certain movements thereto. llach of the tables 0, O2. 0'", 0? is mounted to turn in .the slides K, and each of said tables is provided withv a pinion o', o2., o". 05 adapted to engage certain of the rac-irs before nientioned. The table 03 is given.- a different movement from the other tables and other mechanism is employed for operatingr it. The tables 02, 0*, 05 are given not only a turning or tilting movement to fold the noodles but also a sidewise movement rola- 'tively to their line of reciprocation for the purpose of staggering the noodle strips to cause them to assume the position shown in Fig. 2li of the drawings. This shifting of the tables is effected partl v by the lugs Q. Q2. Q4, Q5 attachedto the bottom lo of the folder frame which'coperate with. rollers 2. 04, g5 projecting downwardly from ...-ff q.

thej tables O', O2, 04,'0 and partly by means of rollers t, t, t2, t3 projecting upwardly from the bottom g of the folder frame which cooperate with cams S, T, i, and T on the tables O2 and O4.

It will be understood, as before inentioned. that the tables are operated to fold anddeliver two sets of noodles duringeach reciprocation or double stroke of the mechanism. `When moving to the left or to the front ofthe machine the tables O, O2, O3, O* are active and operate to fold a set of noodles. When moving to the right or rear- Wardlv the tables O2, G3, 04 and O5 are acl tive for this purpose. the table. 03 in both cases being employed to dump or deliver the noodles to the carrier belts belon1 them. This table O3 is pivotally connected at one end with one of the slides K and it is also pirotallv connected at its opposite end with the corresponding slide on the opposite side of the machine. It carries a pinion U adapted to engage racks V, V l located in its path. These racks are spring-operated, as indicated in Fig. 22, and each rack has attached to `it a plate fr, the upper edge of which is in line with the upper edge of the teeth of the rack. IThe pinion Tl has secured to it a semi-'circular plate U which is adapted to engage the plates o, o. The plate Uhas a straight edge u, and the arrangement is such that'at times the plate U enigfagesl the plates o or o and it de-v The sheet of dough is divided into strips or ribbons in the manner before-described and these ribbons are cut lengths. While beine' thus out these lengths of doughare deposited on the tables below them when the latter are in a neutral or flat horizontal "position,y as indicated for instance in Figs, (l. 7 and 13. lissuminp that the folding mechanism is moving forward or to the left as viewed in the drawings, when in the position shown in Fig. 13 the noodle strips' will lie on the tables in a parallel condition, as indicated in Fig. 25. As the tables m'ove to the left (see Fig. 6) the rollers g', and (/2 on the tables O', Ozwill iirst engage the lugs Q', Q2. This will cause said tables O. (l2 to be shifted slightly to one side and will bring` the pinion o in line- .with the rack r but to the left thereof. The

table O3 is not shifted but as the tables move into suitable to the left the cam T on the table 04 engages the roller l and the table O4 is shifted in an opposite direction to that of the tables O and O2 and the pinion 0^1L comes into'line with the rack r2. The tables then have assumed the position shown in Fig. 26 of the drawings.` It will be observed that the table O5 at this time is neither shifted nor tilted, but as the tables move farther to the left the pinion 0 engages the rack R and when moved still farther to the left the tables O and 04 will be tilted, in the manner indicated in Fig. .14, thus giving the lirst fold to the noodles which then rest on the tables O2 and O3, as indicated in Fig. 14. After this, the tables reverse their movements; that is to say, they move to the right and when so moving the pinion o which still engages the rack R is turned in the opposite direction to that of its rst movement and the table O is reversed orbrought back to its horizontal position. as indicated in Fig. 15. vThe pinion o4 of the table O4 which engages the rack r2 is also reversed or turned in an opposite direction and causes the table 04 to be brought back to a horizontal position, as ,shown in Fig. 1-5. The pinion o2 of the table U2, it Will be remembered, had on the forward movement been brought into line with the rack r and when the tables are.rnoved to the right the pinion o2 is turned bythe rack 7" in 'such direction as l @5, are moving to the left or forward in the to cause the .table O2 to be turned to the position shown in Fig. 15 and to thusfold a portion of the folded noodles over upon the other portion thereof (Fig. 15). As the tables move farther to the right, the pinion 02v engagesthe rack R2 and the table O2 is 'brought back to a horizontal position' (Fig. 16).- At this ltime the pinion U eri-- position and this is done by the cam 's forming part of the'cam S which cam s engages the roller t. shifted, but the table `O4 is shifted back to its neutral position bythe cam 151 forming part of the cam T which engages the roller t2;- After this vthe tables receive strips of dough which are folded in the manner next out of line with the racks and its roller q1V -the tables to the right.

to be described during the movement 'of At this time the table O is inactive, its pinion o being held not coming into contact with any shifting mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 6, as the tables move to theright the ioller o5 comes in contact IWith the part 112 of the lug Q5 and they table 0 is shifted upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 6. At the same time the roller g4 on the table. O4 comes into engagement Withthe lug Q* and this table is valso shifted' upwardly as viewed in F ig. -6 but to a less extent.' The table Os is of coursenot shifted, but the table O2 is shifted by the roller t2 which engages the cam S. As the tables continue to move to` the right the pinion o engages the rackR` and the table C)ls is tilted. During this same movement the pinion o2 engages the rack r3 and the table 02 ,4 is'tiited to fold the noodles in a similar man- 551 manner to that shown in Fig. 15 by means ner to that indicated in Fig, 14. When the movement of the tables is reversed the table O5 is brought back to a-horizontal position by reason of the engageinentof its pinion o with the rack R4, and the table O2 is also brought back to horizontal position by' means ofthepinio'ii o? and the rack r3. I The. table O4 is then tilted or turned in a similar lof its pinion' 04 whichl at that time engages the rack 'r4' and-iiiiinerliately afterward the table O2 is returned to a horizontal position fvvhen` its pinion o2 engages the rack R3.

Immediately after this the pinion U of the table O3 engages the rack Vfand the table O3 is revolved tovdcposit the folded noodles on the carrier belts.

It will be observed vthat When the tables The table 03 is of course. not

folding operation first mentioned, the plate U engages the plate 'v and 'therefore the pinion U is not revolvedbut on the return movement the pinion U does engage the rack V and causes the dumping table to be operated. In like manner, when the tables are moving to the right during the folding operation the semi-circular plate U engages the plate o and the pinion U i-s not operative. but on the return movement said pinion U engages the rack V and revolves the dumping table.y lt will also beoliseived that the rollers t and t3 are longer or higher than the rollers 1, t2 and the high rollers are slrtted oi' recessed at t2" so as to permit the lower cams s and tu to pass by them, said cams s, 1 being adapted to engage the low rollers t', t2. The tables (Y, 92,0, O5 are provided with arms w which rest at times on tables lV wliioh support and guide them. In this way noodles are folded and delivered during'each reciprocation or each double stroke of the tables and tlierefore he outp-ut of the machine is double that `f a machine in' which the noodles are folded only once during a single reciprocation of the mechanism.

As before stated, my'invention relates particularly to the folding mechanism and such mechanism maybe embodied in ma- 'chinos involving the use-of a different cut- .such reciprocation to fold the once-folded noodles upon themselves, means for moving another'one of the tables during such re' ciprocation to dump the folded noodles,

f and mechanism for restoring the tables to their horizontal positions.

2. A machine for folding noodles, com# iio prising a series of horizontallyarranged-- tables, means for simultaneously reciprocating them, mechanisml for shifting some of the tables laterally during each stroke thereof, means vfor tilting two of the tables toward each other during each reciprocation to give the first fold to the noodles,

means for tilting .another table during each reciprocation to fold the once-folded noodles upon themselves, means for moving another one of the tables durino each reciprocation .to dump the folded noodles, and mechanism for restoring the tables to their horizontal positions. l

3. A machine for folding noodles, comprising a series of horizontally arranged tables, means for simultaneously reciprocat- .lab

ing these tables in a horizontal plane, mechanism for tilting tWo of the tables during a single stroke to give the lirst fold' to the noodles, means for vtilting a third table to give the second fold to the noodles, mechanism for then operating a fourth table to dump the folded noodles, and means for restoring the tables to their horizontal posi tions. Y

4. A machine for folding noodles, comprising a series of horizontally arranged tables, means for reciprocating these tables simultaneously in the same horizontal plane, mechanism for-operating three of the tables to fold the noodles during a single stroke in one direction of the tables, means for operating a fourth table during such stroke to dumpthe folded noodles, erating three of the tables turn stroke to fold another and means for operating one dump the folded noodles.

5. A machine for folding noodles, comprising a series of five horizontally arranged tables, means for reciprocating said tables simultaneously in the same horizontal plane, means for operatin during one stroke o? of the tables to fold means for opduring the reset of noodles, of the tables to the noodles over upon fourth table to dump the noodles thus folded, means for operating during-the return strokeythefsecond, fourth' and fifth tables in the series to fold noodles over upon vsaid fourth table (which is the third in the series), and means for operating said third laterally, three of said tables' a single reciprocationmeans for operating said table in the series to dump the noodles thus folded. g

6. A machine for folding noodles, com prising a supporting frame, a series of horizontally arranged tables mounted to simultaneously slide therein, means for shifting some of'said tables laterally, pinions'carried by some of said tables, racks engaging said'pinions to turn them at the proper times to givel folds to the noodles,other racks engaging said pinions for restoring .said tables to their horizontal planes, and

mechanism for operating one of said tables twice during each complete reciprocation or double stroke to dump the folded noodles.

7. A machine for1 folding noodles, comprising a supporting frame, a series of horizontally arranged tables mounted to reciprocate therein, rollers carried'by some of said tables, lugs on the supporting frame which engage the rollersv and cause said tables -to be by some of saidv tables, rollers on the sup porting frame which engage said cams and cause the cam-carrying tables to be shifted and mechanism for turning some of the tables to fold the noodles, and other mechanism for operating one of said tables to dump the folded noodles.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

` CARL PLETSCHER.

Witnesses:

EUNI STAEKLEB, M. L. JOHNSTON..

shifted laterally, cams carried @llir 

